I don't think it was so much about necessarily wanting variety as it was about other facts.
-having a new class with a tank spec might get more people to tank; tank shortage isn't going to be solved by this, but it might at least do a little bit
-tank felt like an obvious choice for Evoker, as dragons tend to be big meaty monsters and their scales etc. are renowned for their durability
-only 2 specs feels lazy to some people, as though design just decided to save money and not add a 3rd; with DH at least it makes sense since there isn't really a natural 3rd that fits
-tank players might be disappointed they don't get to be a dragon, meaning they as a role got excluded from "the new hot thing" and would have to either DPS or heal
And I'm sure there's more.
3 DPS specs was fine come early WoW, when classes were designed to be as open as possible to catch a wide idea of general archetypes in how a class is presented. Once we get more specific classes that don't have that wide capture requirement, trying to stretch them into multiple DPS specs seems to absolutely stretch things. See the 3rd specs for DHs requests that go "Ah, yes, let's add a ranged spec to the class known for fighting exclusively in melee combat with warglaives"
plus like, there's a non-zero amount of people who want Warlock Tank Spec as a thing, and giving people at least the option to tank and heal may increase the likelihood they will
Even a three spec "DPS/Heals/Tank" hybrid would've been preferable to what we wound up with. Alas.
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Ah yes, three classes where people have wanted there to be tanking or heals for years. Time-based Healer Mage spec? Yep, that's been an idea. A demon-transforming Tank Warlock spec? Been discussed. A dodge and parry heavy Tank Rogue? Yep, that one too!
Honestly if we didn’t get four specs with a class based on the 5 Dragonflights, a four spec class simply isn’t in the cards. I can think of no other class concept that could support 4 specs except maybe the Mechanic/Tinker.
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I have no issue with classes that have multiple DPS specs. My point is that Blizzard seems to be moving away from classes having more than one DPS spec, and seemingly is pushing the notion that you can merge two DPS concepts under one spec via talents.
Honestly I hope its a Necromancer class. We just had an expansion themed around the Afterlife and various beings that inhabit it. But with today's Blizzard I could see them having a spec based around Kyrians/Venthyr and Night Fae/Necrolords. They could do four but I think that would be insulting to Druids. Just no Maw BS. And since Evokers just filled the 'missing Mail class' slot, I think Necromancers should wear Leather. Because y'know wearing the skin if dead creatures makes sense for them
Yes, I KNOW Death Knights exist. I want a LIVING Death magic user, not a former soldier of the Lich King.
Last edited by LemonDemonGirl; 2022-11-29 at 12:50 AM.
Guess it's time you better plugged in all your nightlights....